A Moradabad court has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel in connection with a protracted legal dispute dating back to 2017. The court issued the warrant after Patel failed to attend court on multiple occasions which the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) had summoned her.

The case originates from a complaint which event organiser Pawan Kumar Verma filed against Patel who he claims took an advance payment of ₹14.5 lakh to perform at a wedding event in Moradabad on November 16 2017. According to Verma Patel did not attend the event as she had promised. The reports say that Patel returned ₹10 lakh in cash while her cheque which she issued to refund the ₹4.5 lakh balance bounced.

The NBW was issued after the actress missed several court dates which extended until February 16 2026. The court has ordered Patel to come to court by March 27 2026.

The actress used social media on February 17 to declare the controversy as a “very old matter” which she asserts she resolved several years ago. Patel asserted that Verma had signed a settlement deed and received the agreed sum in full. Her legal team has stated their intention to pursue criminal charges against the complainant whom they accuse of making false allegations while trying to reopen a case that had already been closed.

She took to Instagram and wrote, “Media reports suggest about certain proceedings at Moradabad by one Pawan Verma. I wish to inform one and all that this is a 15 year old matter in which the said Pawan Verma had signed a settlement deed and received the entire agreed amount. Despite this it seems he has lodged proceedings making false allegations. My lawyers are initiating appropriate criminal proceedings of cheating against this person to expose his lies and deceit while I prefer to focus on my work and ignore people who choose to make a public spectacle for gaining attention on false pretexts.”